AQMD TO RULE IN APRIL ON SCHOOL BUS OPTIONS.

Byline: Rodney Tanaka Staff Writer

The future of Southern California's school buses will be determined in a few months, regulators said Friday as the debate continues over whether clean-air technology includes ``green diesel.''

The South Coast Air Quality Management District's board of directors will decide April 20 whether to approve rule 1195, requiring a shift from diesel power to lower-emission and alternative-fuel buses.

The rule would apply to some 8,500 school buses in the AQMD's jurisdiction - which includes all or part of the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino - including 3,600 operated by school districts and 4,900 operated by private firms.

A school district that could not afford to buy alternative-fuel buses could buy low-sulfur diesel buses with filters that lower emissions.

Some public speakers at the AQMD meeting Friday supported the April 20 hearing date, while others asked for a quicker decision.

Julie Masters, project attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said April 3 is the deadline to apply for funding from the state Air Resources Board's program for lower-emissions school buses.

She said holding the hearing in April, instead of March as proposed earlier, could result in some schools missing out on funding.

``It is essential districts implement the rule and all funding sources are taken full advantage of,'' she said. ``Our fear is the missed deadline means more diesel buses on the road.''

AQMD board member Bea LaPisto-Kirtley, in making the motion to set the hearing for April, asked the agency's staff to remind school districts that April 3 is the deadline to apply for the state funds.

The April 20 hearing date is acceptable and allows school districts to comment on the plan, said Bob Sulnick, chairman of the South Coast Clean Air Partnership. The industry group wants green-diesel technology to be allowed under the requirements, which could result in cleaner buses at a fraction of the cost, Sulnick said.

Henry Hogo, AQMD planning and rules manager, said green diesel is not as clean as alternative fuel.

The April hearing date will not affect funding, he said. Schools interested in converting to alternative fuel or clean diesel will apply for funding, and the AQMD will refer them to other funding sources as well, he said.

The AQMD will hold a public consultation on the bus rule at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at AQMD headquarters, 21865 E. Copley Drive, in Diamond Bar.